The potion was bubbling and crying for its next set of ingredients. Bottles were empty and corks were spewed across the floorboards, their use gone and would probably be recycled by Molly for her cleaning potions. The stench had thankfully faded from the concoctions many layers of pickled toad, newt's spleen and things that Blair had never used or touched in real life before. Its simmering aroma had near no scent at all and allowed her to shut the windows in the room, shutting out the cold air that chilled her to the bone. Having to bundle up in a coat and scarf while inside The Burrow with a roaring fire in the living room downstairs was starting to become ridiculous.

But the potion was far from done. The addition of the Seafold bark that George had snatched for her would need to disintegrate and mix in with the other ingredients. That would take a month before the other eight ingredients would need to be added before the potion would be ready for testing (Blair hoped they would be testing it on something other than a human).

Standing up from the floor, Blair stretched her arms above her head and sighed in a form of relief. It was nothing compared to the satisfaction she'd feel when it would be finished, but getting this far with the potion brought her some sense of accomplishment. She grabbed her wand off the floor and carefully levitated the cauldron into the corner of the room where it wouldn't be tipped over accidentally. The worst case scenario would be George stumbling in and knocking the entire thing over the floor, where it would sink through the floorboards and drop on pieces of furniture on the floor below. Blair would have to start all over again and buy even more ingredients that weren't working out to be cheap at all. So the corner was its safest place until it would simmer and she could then follow the last steps from her father's book.

In her free time, Blair had read her father's notes in his twelfth year Potions textbook from cover to cover. Most of the recipes he had added to only improved them slightly, but there were particular ones that he had been able to twist completely and make them into a completely different potion. She was amazed at how intelligent her father must have been in order to know that his changes would be successful in his work. She found herself admiring his ability to put things together with what seems like just a single thought of 'how could this be better? More deadly? More powerful?'

Along with the textbook, she had also been looking through the photo album she had picked up from the house. Sometimes when she was waiting for George to get back from a late night Order mission, she would wait up for him while looking through the moving pictures of her mother and very scarce her father. Her mother was mesmerising with her light hair and dark eyes while her father was stone-like and always so far off. He stared into the camera in the one picture he was in with heavy bags under his electric eyes; tired and in another world of his own. Blair guessed she had inherited the latter to some extent.

"How's it going?" George's voice made Blair turn around to see his handkerchief-covered face poking cautiously through the doorway.

"You can take that off. It's finally passed its stage of smelling like Freddie's sock draw in here," Blair pulled off her coat and adjusted the scarf around her neck. George stepped further into the room when he saw the lid over the cauldron in the corner and untied the handkerchief from around his nose and mouth. He inhaled deeply and sighed in relief, smelling only the gingerbread candle that had been lit on the nightstand.

"Thank Merlin," he shoved the cloth into his pocket and stepped forward to be next to Blair. "Have you finished for the day, then?"

"Finished for the month, actually. The Seafold has to fester before I can add anything else."

"What's next to add, then?"

"The skinned toad."

"Ah."

The two ran their hands down their faces at the thought of scavenging through places like Knockturn Alley to find the final things they needed. They'd avoided thinking about the journey for as long as they could and now it was time to suck it up and start searching. The Burrow had done well in settling them into relaxation mode and feeling safe for a majority of the time. Molly had fussed over them enough for them to feel like young teenagers again with her excessive amounts of comfort food and complaints about the mess the twins left in their wake. But they would have to break out of The Burrow's solitude and soul-warming effect in order to progress with what was important.

"Let's not think about that now," George suggested and took hold of Blair's arms with an attempted smile. "It's Christmas Eve. Let's head downstairs-"

"Maybe it's the best time to start looking," she cut him off. A grimace formed from the hitch of his lips as if he had been expecting a response like that. Blair felt George's hands squeeze her biceps from a sudden strain of his muscles and she saw how lop-sided his head truly was. The smooth skin that replaced where his ear should be had the same portion of hair that he had attempted to flatten over it. She had found that when George was conflicted or sad, his head sagged to the side as if his present ear was weighing it down. This was one of those times and he could be compared with a pleading, lop-sided puppy.

"I know I sound like such a Scrooge-" she tried to defend her statement before his face fell any further. "-but Christmas isn't going to feel like Christmas this year. We can tell that much already. I think it would be wise to spend the small time of silence that comes with the holidays getting the last lot of things for the potion. Snatchers won't be as on guard and dodgy dealers might be less suspicious and willing. I doubt they'd celebrate the festivity but they could cut me some good deals."

"Blair..." George sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He had gone through these types of conversations too many times before. They always ended with Blair and Fred getting their way and sending them off onto some dangerous and unplanned adventure that could lead to their deaths. Sure, they had all come out okay up to this point. But maybe this was the one where their luck would finally run out. Blair had a nick for attracting danger and he was sure his heart would be the colour of cement because of the hours of worry that had his fiancé at the centre.

"I know, I know, it's stupid and selfish. But I want to finish this blasted thing. It's my contribution to the rebellion. Hunting Horcruxes might not be my thing, but I can do a lot with this," Blair insisted, ensuring to keep his gaze to show she wasn't faltering and was a hundred percent committed to another mission. "I'm not expecting you to come again. I understand if you're not up for it. I didn't expect you to be up for any of it, if I'm honest."

George was as conflicted as ever. He'd made sure to always stick to Blair's side during Order missions and in situations that promised to be dangerous. Even when his ear was cursed off and his mind was flicking between peculiar dreams and reality, he worried about where Blair was and why she and Charlie were the last back to The Burrow. He didn't care that he was overprotective and overbearing. He cared about Blair more than anything. She challenged him constantly about being able to take care of herself, but nothing would stop him from thinking whether she was safe, cared for and happy. When they're finally married and living in little old Puddlemere, his mind will be at rest because she will be happy. He could see her smile without consequence again, just like it used to be before this war.

"Mum needs someone here," he let out in defeat. "Ginny can't come home. Ron's buggered off and Bill's got Fleur at Shell's Cottage. Percy's as good as a Slytherin in a loyalty test. Charlie and I can at least be here for her."

"You and Charlie? Don't you mean Fred as well?" she said in confusion.

"No. He'll go with you."

Blair was shocked for two reasons. The first was George caving in and letting her go searching for the ingredients on her own. That was out of his character enough, but throwing Fred in the mix was even stranger. That brought her to the second reason. Ever since she and Fred went into London for the meet up with her Ravenclaw friends, George had been wary in letting her go out with only one of them with her. It was unnecessary to have them both but she and Fred chose to avoid complicating things further by arguing. They knew how George was and it was better to roll with it to settle his conscience.

"Y-You asked him?" she stuttered through her shock.

"He volunteered," he gave a light shrug. "We said that if the time came that only one of us could go, it would be him. The git said that 'we both needed a break from each other otherwise we'd be divorced within a month'. Something about us being too close as a couple."

The Weasley chuckled but Blair struggled to do the same. She knew that Fred was hiding the fact that he knew George would stand over her like a building if they were to go out searching for yet another set of items. It would be comparable to hunting Hocruxes with George by her side. True to his past words, he would have grey hairs sprouting by Christmas. And tomorrow was Christmas.

"Thank you..." she wasn't sure why she was thanking him. But when he pressed his lips tightly together and nodded at her, Blair knew she had done something right.

"Just be careful. Please."

---

"Do you want to take some mince pies with you? I know how hungry you get, Fred."

"No thanks, Mum. I've shovelled down five already."

"Blair? What about you? Do you want some pudding to take?"

"No thank you, Molly."

Blair and Fred stood in the living room with their chins bundled in their scarves and their coats covering their layers of jumpers. They dressed for mountains of snow despite the field outside The Burrow being clear of what usually made a winter wonderland. But assuming other places would be the same would be foolish and a lethal mistake. Molly would rather sacrifice her finest pots and pans rather than let the two walk outside in two layers of clothing. They needed to be warm and prepared for the Christmas Eve night chill.

Arthur, Molly and Charlie stood in the kitchen with dinner still heating on the stove while George stood with his twin and Blair in the living room. His arms were crossed and his face was riddled with worry. A part of him wanted to leave with Fred and Blair, but the other knew his mother appreciated him staying. They were a team. They did everything together and all had their features that made them near invincible. From Hogwarts to Death Eaters, they were remembered and despised by many. But they were still walking and alive. If this were to be the last time they'd see each other, he'd never forgive himself. But he had to believe in them. They were stronger than anyone he knew.

"Where's the first stop?" Charlie decided to ask after seeing the tension between the three.

"Israel," Blair answered, bending the green potion book back and forth in her hands. "My dad's written something about it for some of the ingredients in here. Hopefully, I can find most of them there."

Charlie nodded in understanding. Blair looked towards George again and saw his dark eyes yearning for her to stay, be safe and go all at the same time. Making one final leap, she stepped forward and reached up to wrap her arms around his shoulders. She wedged her face in between his head and shoulder while feeling his arms around her middle, squeezing her tightly with his chin on her shoulder. He indulged in her scent and savoured her warmth for when he wouldn't be able to embrace her. It had been so long since she had been away long enough for him to miss hugging her and keeping her close.

"Bring it in, mate," George mumbled against her hair and Blair realised he was talking to Fred. She sensed the man's bright smile as he closed in and felt another set of arms enclose around her and George. The three hugged each other in their last goodbye with warm smiles on their faces.

"Merry Christmas, guys."

"Merry Christmas, Georgie."